Uvariopsis zenkeri Engl., Notizbl. Konigl . Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 298, 1899

Couvreur, Thomas L. P., Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J., Crozier, Francoise, Ghogue, Jean-Paul, Hoekstra, Paul H., Kamdem, Narcisse G., Johnson, David M., Murray, Nancy A. & Sonke, Bonaventure, 2022, Flora of Cameroon - Annonaceae Vol 45, PhytoKeys 207, pp. 1-532 : 438-440

Uvariopsis zenkeri Engl., Notizbl. Konigl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 298, 1899

Figs 139 , 140 ; Map 17A

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 1117, 1896: holotype: B[B 10 0153124]; isotypes: BM[BM000554075]; GOET[GOET005734]; HBG[HBG502515]; P[P00362604, P00362603]; K[K000199042]; M[M0107936]; S[S07-11029]; WU[WU0025790]

Description.

Shrub to tree, 2-7 m tall, d.b.h. 1.5-11 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches densely pubescent. Leaves: petiole 2-5.5 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, densely to sparsely pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 11-15.8 cm long, 3.5-5.8 cm wide, elliptic to obovate, apex long acuminate, acumen 1-2.4 cm long, base acute to decurrent, papyraceous, above glabrous when young and old, below glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 6 to 13 pairs, glabrous above and below; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals unisexual, monoecious; inflorescences cauliflorous or ramiflorous on old leafless branches, axillary. Flowers with 6 perianth parts in 2 whorls, globose in bud, 1 per inflorescence, male and female inflorescences similar; pedicel 0 - 7 mm long, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; in fruit ca. 10 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, glabrous; bracts 1 to 2, all basal 1-4 mm long, 2.5-5 mm wide; sepals 2, valvate, basally fused, 3-7 mm long, 4.5-7 mm wide, circular, apex obtuse, base truncate, brown, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals 4, basally fused, tube 1-4 mm long, 6-13 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, greenish-white, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside; male flowers: stamens 100 to 150, in 10 to 12 rows, 0.5 mm long, broad; connective reduced or absent, glabrous, pinkish red; staminodes absent; female flowers: carpels free, 13 to 22, ovary 1.5-3 mm long, 1-1.5 wide, stigma coiled, densely pubescent. Monocarps stipitate, stipes ca. 1 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter; monocarps 1 to 3, ca. 37 mm long, ca. 17 mm in diameter, cylindrical, apex rounded, tomentose, bumpy when dry, green when ripe; seeds 10 to 12 per monocarp, ca. 13 mm long, ca. 7 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

endemic to Cameroon; known from the South, Littoral and South-West regions.

Habitat.

In lowland primary or old secondary rain forests. Altitude 0-700 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Vulnerable (VU). ( Texier and Stévart 2021b).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvariopsis zenkeri closely resembles U. congensis . See notes under the latter species.

Specimens examined.

Littoral Region: Ebo Forest proposed National Park Ebo Forest Research Station-Bekob , 4.36°N, 10.41°E, 27 October 2006, Osborne J. 200 (K) . South Region: Bipindi, 3.26°N, 10.20°E, 20 June 1918, Annet E. 351 (P); Campo Ma’an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town , 2.47°N, 10.34°E, 14 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 707 (WAG,YA); Efoulan, 2.74°N, 10.53°E, 25 April 2000, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 2846 (KRIBI,WAG); Campo-Ma’an area Mamelles Massif, 2.56°N, 9.949°E, 23 April 2001, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 3252 (KRIBI,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 1896, Zenker G.A. 1117 (K,L,P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1904, Zenker G.A. 3045 (K,L,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1904, Zenker G.A. 3228 (L); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 March 1914, Zenker G.A. 515 (U,WAG) . South-West Region: on trail leading to top of Mt Etinde after Ekonjo village, 4.06°N, 9.153°E, 01 April 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1027 (WAG,YA); on top of hill near Small Ekombe village 3 km after Kumba on road to Ekondo Titi town , 4.62°N, 9.374°E, 13 January 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 978 (WAG,YA); Mokoko Forest Reserve Dikome, 4.48°N, 9.033°E, 05 May 1994, Ekema S.N. 944 (K); Mount above Batoke, 4.08°N, 9.083°E, 24 April 1984, Thomas D.W. 3455 (BR,LBV,MO,P,WAG,YA); Takamanda Forest Reserve , 6.21°N, 9.433°E, 30 April 1987, Thomas D.W. 7372 (MO,P,WAG) .

Figures

Map 17. A Uvariopsis zenkeri B Xylopia aethiopica C Xylopia africana D Xylopia aurantiiodora E Xylopia calva F Xylopia cupularis G Xylopia elliotii H Xylopia gilbertii I Xylopia hypolampra. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 139. Uvariopsis submontana A base of trunk, note base completely covered with large clusters of flowers B leaf, upper side C base of leaf blade, lower side D base of leaf blade, upper side E cluster of female flowers, note light yellow carpels F detail of male flower, one petal removed G detail of female flower, one petal removed H fruit. Uvariopsis zenkeri I leaf, upper side J base of leaf blade, upper side K base of leaf blade, lower side L flower in bud, note small dimension A-G Couvreur 627, Ebo, Cameroon H Couvreur 1052, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon I-L Couvreur 1027, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.

Figure 140. Uvariopsis zenkeri A leaf, upper side B male inflorescences C male flower, one petal removed D stamen E female flower, one petal removed F carpel, front and side view, detail of ovules. Uvariopsis congensis G flowering branch with male flower H male flower one petal removed I stamen J flowering branch with female flower K female flower, one petal removed L carpel, side view and detail of ovules M fruit A-E from Zenker 1117 F from Zenker 63 G-L from Tisserant 1363 M from Letouzey 5494. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.